[[folder:Main Good Guys]]!!'''Miyamoto Usagi'''[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Usagi_Yojimbo_119_5727.jpg]][[caption-width-right:360:It's not a fair fight. Those zombies are doomed.]]

Our hero, a young samurai whose liege lord died in battle not long after Usagi entered his service. Now masterless, he [[WalkingTheEarth walks the earth]], occasionally hiring himself out as a bodyguard (hence the title), honing his skill as a warrior and meeting lots of interesting people.

* ArbitrarySkepticism: Flip-flops a bit. He's pretty skeptical about the supernatural, though he's encountered more supernatural elements than any of the other characters (except Sasuke). He also strongly doubts Jei's claims of divine inspiration, and felt that the earthquake that occurred when Jei stuck the Sword of the Gods into the ground was 'coincidence'.** Though given that it ''is'' Japan, which has hundreds of fault lines and sits at the boundaries of several plates, earthquakes are common enough that it ''could'' have been a coincidence.* AwesomenessByAnalysis: He can almost invariably tell, just by watching another person's technique, whether he can defeat them or not.* BashBrothers: Often with MrViceGuy Gen.** Any appearances in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2003 has him be this to Leonardo. It helps they have the same weapons and that Usagi's just a more cynical version of him.* BewareTheNiceOnes: Usagi's nice, friendly and very good with kids. He's also highly (and unconventionally) skilled, devious, and TheDeterminator when there are lives or honor at stake.* ChickMagnet: He's a [[NiceGuy kindhearted,]] sword wielding {{badass}}. Plenty of the ladies have noticed.* ChronicHeroSyndrome: -->'''Usagi''': I can't just stand by and do nothing.-->'''Chizu''': Of course you can...but you never do.* CulturedWarrior: On top of being really tough and skilled in a fight, he paints calligraphy.* ADogNamedDog: Usagi means rabbit. He's a rabbit.* EarsAsHair: His ears are tied back to resemble a ''chonmage,'' a SamuraiPonytail.* {{Expy}}: Of MiyamotoMusashi.* FriendToAllChildren[=/=]FriendToAllLivingThings: Usagi ''always'' gets along famously with most of the children he interacts with, usually the kids of those he's a guest of for the night, and is unusually nice to the dino lizards that litter the setting.* GoodIsNotSoft: Usagi is probably the ''nicest samurai ever''. Many bad people have mistaken this pleasant nature for weakness. Those people are dead now.* HyperAwareness: A skill that Katsuichi-sensei physically beat into him and one that has saved Usagi's life many times. It can be over-sensitive and Usagi has a tendency to ignore correct hunches. Katsuichi-sensei also drew a distinction between this trope and ProperlyParanoid.* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Toward Mariko.* KidSamurai: in flashback chapters.* KnightErrant* LeaveYourQuestTest: 'Circles' (in Book 6 of his first series) established that he will never return to his home village, where his first sweetheart Mariko lives with his boyhood arch-rival, Kenichi.* MartialPacifist: He sought war and glory when he was young. Now he attacks only in self defense or on behalf of those who cannot fight for themselves.* MasterSwordsman: He thinks nothing of taking on six or seven warriors of ordinary skill.* NobleMaleRoguishMale: With Gen.* OneRiotOneRanger: Usagi isn't ''quite'' in the OneManArmy category, but he regularly takes out whole bands of bandits or criminals unassisted.* RighteousRabbit and RascallyRabbit: Usagi is kind and honorable almost to a fault, but has a trickster streak as well.* RedOniBlueOni: Blue Oni to Gen's Red Oni.* {{Ronin}}: One of the earliest stories establishes that Usagi's journeys began when his lord, Mifune, died in a great battle (the same one that gave him his scar.)* ScarsAreForever: Usagi has a scar above his eye, which he got from Lord Hikiji at the Battle of Adachigahara while trying to avenge his lord. It looks like a FascinatingEyebrow. Since he gained it on the same day he became ''ronin,'' it's a visual reminder whenever there is a flashback to his samurai days.* ShoutOut: His name "Miyamoto Usagi" is one to the famed samurai/ronin/author of ''The Book of Five Rings'', MiyamotoMusashi. He also often uses both swords at once during some fights, a style Musashi is famous for inventing/popularizing and something no other character in the comic does. * VictoryThroughIntimidation: Has ended more than one conflict with a DeathGlare at his would-be opponent. Usually after slaying one or two of their comrades to add some weight to the silent threat.* WhiteBunny: It's hard to tell since the comic is in black and white. However, color stories (and covers) reveal that he really ''is'' white.

!!'''Tomoe Ame'''

Chief retainer to the young Lord Noriyuki; a controversial position for a woman, but one she's earned several times over. She and Usagi become friends early in the series after he helps her foil an assassination attempt on her master, and they gradually develop feelings for one another.

* ActionGirl* CainAndAbel: She and [[spoiler:[[PsychoForHire Noriko]]]].* CelebrityParadox: Although the idea for Tomoe's character was drawn from the historical female samurai Tomoe Gozen, ''Grasscutter'' actually includes a scene with the ''original'' Tomoe Gozen (in her elder years as a Buddhist nun.)* LadyOfWar: She seems more comfortable with warfare than with the skills traditionally practiced by women of her caste.* NaginatasAreFeminine: Tomoe began her career wielding a naginata. [[spoiler: She had learned the sword from her swordmaster father but could not use them because she was a lady. By saving her lord from a ninja attack she was appointed "guardian of the heir" and was allowed to again wear her swords.]] * RedOniBlueOni: Blue Oni to Noriko's Red Oni.* {{Samurai}}: Rather unusually for a samurai, she helped train and raise her current master, Lord Noriyuki.* ShipTease: With Usagi. [[spoiler:By the time of "The Mother of Mountains", they became actual lovers, though Usagi's travels and Tomoe's upcoming arranged marriage have made the future of such a relationship iffy.]] .* YouGoGirl: Due to the chauvinistic nature of the period, she's ''constantly'' having to prove her worth over and over.

!!'''Gen (Murakami Gennosuké)'''

Usagi's [[MrViceGuy less morally upright]] friend, a bounty hunter who cheats Usagi out of money the first few times they meet: which later becomes a running joke between them. He's more interested in preserving his gruff image than his samurai honor, but is not as callous as he pretends.

* [[spoiler: AncestralWeapon]]: [[spoiler:After the battle against Magistrate Oda's men, he discovers the swords he stole from Oda's armory were once his father's swords.]]* BoisterousBruiser: A drinker, a brawler, and generally a fun-loving guy.* BountyHunter: This is his day-to-day profession. He's not completely mercenary, though.* JerkassFacade---> '''Usagi:''' "You really are a softie, you know."---> '''Gen:''' "If you're going to be [[ITakeOffenseToThatLastOne insulting,]] I'm leaving."* MiserAdvisor: He doesn't like handing out cash unnecessarily.* NotInThisForYourRevolution: He prefers to do good deeds, but he expects payment.* PermaStubble: Yes, on a rhino.* RedOniBlueOni: Red Oni to Usagi's Blue.* RhinoRampage: He's got good offensive techniques, but tends to be stopped cold by real masters such as Zato-ino or Inazuma.* {{Ronin}}: As the son of a ronin, he has the right to wear the swords. But he was raised in poverty, so he lacks the usual gentlemanly training associated with his caste.* ShipTease: He and Kitsune show some attraction. Neither really has the temperament to settle down (or to split the take fairly), so it's unlikely to progress far.* ShoutOut: The PermaStubble and general attitude make him the in-universe version of "Sanjuro", Creator/ToshiroMifune's character from Creator/AkiraKurosawa's ''Yojimbo'' and ''Sanjuro''. Mifune also played Miyamoto Musashi, for a different director.* ShortCutsMakeLongDelays: A RunningGag; Gen's short cuts do not work out. * VitriolicBestBuds: He and Usagi start out this way.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Occasional Allies]]!!'''Iké the farmer/General Ikeda'''

A general who joined an uprising against Lord Noriyuki's father, Lord Mataichi. When it failed, he and some of his soldiers went into hiding disguised as commoners, intending to take up arms again at a politically opportune moment; but when Mataichi died a few years later, Ikeda had become too attached to his farm and his peasant wife and children and [[BecomingTheMask decided to stay with them]].He became an ally of Noriyuki after the latter saved his son Motokazu's life.

* BadassMustache: He's got an impressive black mustache that's easily one of his most identifiable features.* CallToAgriculture: He and two soldiers manage to flee when their rebellion failed. Ikeda and one man stay at an abandoned farmhouse, while the other leaves to regather their forces. Ikeda and the other man adopt life as farmers, managing to raise a thriving farm. Ikeda even notes the feeling of success when digging an irrigation ditch far outweighs any war victory he's had. After the other man dies, Ikeda meets a woman and raises a family. Years later, the second soldier returns, bringing news of Lord Matiachi's death and that they have enough soldiers to launch a new attack. Ikeda chooses to stay with his family and informs the soldier that he's never met him.* [[spoiler: DisneyDeath]]: In ''Grasscutter.''* HeelFaceTurn* [[spoiler: HeroicSacrifice]]* RetiredBadass* [[spoiler: SacrificialLion]]: In ''Grasscutter II.''

!!'''Ikeda Motokazu'''

* KidSamurai* [[SheIsAllGrownUp He Is All Grown Up]]: At the beginning of ''Senso'', 20 years after the main series.

!!'''Inazuma'''

After killing the {{yakuza}} boss who had her husband tortured and killed, the swordswoman who went by the stage name 'Inazuma' lived a life on the run, outfighting all manner of assassins. Usagi once covered the price of her drinks at a wayside inn, and she saved him from a hidden archer as thanks; but he doesn't much like her. Later in the series this 'chance meeting' becomes more significant: [[spoiler: Inazuma becomes the new host body for the demon, Jei.]]

* ActionGirl: An anti-hero version.* ArrowCatch: How she saved Usagi's life.* TheDrifter* [[spoiler: DyingAsYourself]]* FightingFromTheInside* InstantExpert: How she took up swordplay.* NoNameGiven: Inazuma (lightning) is a pseudonym; her real name is [[spoiler:Tomiko]].* TheVirus: [[spoiler: After Jei's death she becomes possessed by his spirit and starts wandering the roads with Keiko, searching for Usagi.]]

!!'''Inspector Ishida'''

A middle-aged detective, highly competent but sometimes hampered by corrupt superiors. He and Usagi have solved several murder mysteries together.

* ADayInTheLimelight: 'After the Rat' doesn't even have Usagi in it.* FriendOnTheForce* TheLastDJ* MartialPacifist: Though he always tries reasoning with people first, he is skilled with the jitte (sword-catcher) and in unarmed combat.* WorthyOpponent: He is considered this by the cat burglar Nezumi, but it's not mutual.--> '''Ishida:''' Justice is not a game.

!!'''Inukai/Stray Dog'''

A BountyHunter who sometimes works with Gen. He's a ruthless, double-crossing JerkAss who ''claims'' he only looks out for himself...

* CombatPragmatist* HiddenDepths: He uses part of his earnings to help support an orphanage. The children call him "Uncle".* JerkassFacade - or possibly JerkAss with a single soft spot. He'll take hostages and betray his allies casually enough... but he WouldNotHurtAChild.* MeaningfulName* PetTheDog: See Hidden Depths.* ReplacementFlatCharacter for Gen.* {{Ronin}}* ShoutOut: His name comes from a Kurosawa Film ''Nora Inu''. His secret heroic bit is directly from Manga wrestler ''Tiger Mask''.

!!'''Jotaro'''

Usagi's son by his childhood sweetheart Mariko, raised in the belief that her husband Kenichi is his father. [[spoiler: He later learns the truth]].

* ADayInTheLimelight: He received an extended arc, ''Travels with Jotaro,'' in which his tutor Katsuichi sends him on the road with Usagi to give him some practical experience of the world.* HeroicBastard: Publicly he is the son of a village headman. He has become aware that he is illegitimate.* KidAppealCharacter: And sometimes an AudienceSurrogate.--> '''Chizu:''' I see what you mean. He's adorable.--> '''Jotaro:''' ''Hey!!''--> '''Usagi:''' I also told her you're very brave.--> '''Jotaro:''' That's better.* KidSamurai: He's determined to be the coolest samurai ''ever.'' Considering he has defeated foes literally twice his size armed only with a wooden bokken, he is well on his way.* WoodenKatanasAreEvenBetter* [[spoiler:LukeYouAreMyFather: Doesn't say it to Usagi's face, but shouts it after he leaves. Usagi hears ''something'', but thinks he just imagined it.]]* [[SheIsAllGrownUp He Is All Grown Up]]: At the beginning of ''Senso'', 20 years after the main series.

!!'''Katsuichi-sensei'''

The old hermit who taught Usagi more or less everything he knows: humility, compassion, thinking before he acted, and not least importantly his unusual style of swordsmanship. [[spoiler: He's currently teaching Jotaro the same things.]]

* BadassGrandpa* CharacterizationMarchesOn: When originally appearing in flash-back Katsuichi-Sensei is a SadistTeacher bordering on SenseiForScoundrels. In later appearances he is a SternTeacher: harsh, demanding but also caring and effective.* CloseCallHaircut: Koji chops off the end of his "pony tail" during their duel, but it's not commented on.* EyePatchOfPower: After getting his eye slashed in an ambush, he uses a sword guard as an eyepatch: ''a la'' [[Manga/InuYasha Kaede's]] or [[Manga/LoneWolfAndCub Yagyu Retsudo's]].* FriendlyRivalry: In his later years, the only friend he still seems to have from his childhood is Isao, a fellow OldMaster. They both trained at the same Dojo, both trying to surpass the other, and both saying they thought their opposite was better. After Katsuichi left Isao took over the dojo, and they still keep in touch.* IWasQuiteALooker: He doesn't bring it up, but the one issue that flashed to his youth reveals it.* KingOfBeasts* OldMaster* RetiredBadass* TheRival: He had one in his youth named [[ArrogantKungFuGuy Toshi]], he endured Toshi's jeers and mockery up until Toshi killed Katsuichi's lover and dueled him. Katsuichi killed him and left his school to become a hermit afterward.* SecretTestOfCharacter: likes to subject his students to these.* WarriorPoet

!!'''Kitsune'''

A street performer/thief/[[ConMan con woman]] who remains friends with Usagi despite the fact that his purse tends to go missing when they meet.

* CatchPhrase: "A girl has to do what she can to get by, neh?"* ClassyCatBurglar: While she prefers con games, she's also adept at burglary (and pickpocketing).* CoolBigSis: To her apprentice, Kiyoko. Before that, to her poor doomed sidekick, the mute GentleGiant she only knew as 'Noodles'.* CunningLikeAFox: That's why she has a fox-like appearance.* TheGadfly: She loves to rattle the cages of the self-important. She's pulled pranks on most of the people she's encountered, except Inspector Ishida. (This backfired ''really badly'' when she tried her pranks on Chizu.)* LetsGetDangerous: When Noodles was framed and executed for theft, Kitsune was not content until the corrupt official responsible was utterly ruined and commanded to perform ''seppuku.''* LikeBrotherAndSister: She enjoys Usagi's company but shows no romantic interest (unless she's up to something.)* MentorOccupationalHazard: Sachiko in Kitsune's backstory.* OddFriendship: Usagi is an upper-class warrior who's fallen on hard times: Kitsune is a low-caste street entertainer and a criminal. He doesn't judge her for that, and she likes that in him.* SecretIdentity: Publicly, she is a traveling entertainer who does balancing acts with tops, fans and so forth.* ShipTease: With Gen.--> '''Usagi:''' ''Gen?!'' Ewww!--> '''Kiyoko:''' Ha ha! That's what ''I'' said!

!!'''Lord Noriyuki'''

The new head of the Geishu clan following the death of his father, Lord Mataichi. At the beginning of the series Noriyuki is about ten; he's one of the few characters to have visibly aged, though only by a couple of years.

* AChildShallLeadThem* [[SheIsAllGrownUp He Is All Grown Up]]: At the beginning of ''Senso'', 20 years after the main series.* PandaingToTheAudience* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Mostly. He is still a child.* RedOniBlueOni: Red Oni to Tomoe's Blue Oni.

!!'''Priest Sanshobo'''

* TheAtoner: Gave up his former life when Lord Ikeda's son accidentally fell to his death, which resulted in Sanshobo's son jumping after him in order to atone for their failure to protect him. Though Ikeda held him blameless, Sanshobo felt shame enough to renounce his status and retire to a monastery.* AllMonksKnowKungFu: Sanshobo is Japanese, and doesn't know any Shaolin tricks. But he's skilled in armed warfare and HyperAwareness, since he was a samurai warrior before his life as a priest.* GoodShepherd* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: He displays the ability to exorcise an evil ''kami,'' but it's not clear if this is because he has power or because the demon ''thinks'' he does.* SimpleStaff: He renounced his right to use swords after the death of his only son.* WarriorMonk

!!'''Sasuké the Demon Queller'''A skilled fox ronin, Sasuke is a {{demon slayer}} and has devoted his life to hunting them.

* {{Determinator}}: When he's set upon a target, he travels miles to get to it. Whenever he expends too much energy, he's left an old man, but the spirit who grants him his powers continues to order him to the next destination, and Sasuke goes without complaint.* DidYouJustPunchOutCthulhu: To almost every other character in the series, supernatural monsters and wizards are rare and terrible things. But it's starting to look like Sasuke is the ''reason'' they're rare.* TheHunter: In the case of wizards, he's a HunterOfHisOwnKind.* MagicKnight* MindReading: Or possibly foretelling the future. He knows the names of people he's never met before, which is a bit of a RunningGag with him.* PlayingWithFire* TheStoic: He doesn't talk much.* SummonBiggerFish* Really700YearsOld: His wife's ghost is six hundred years old. The math is easy to do, though he does not confirm his age.

!!'''Yagi and Gorogoro/Lone Goat and Kid'''

Yagi is a grim but honorable {{samurai}} who turned [[ProfessionalKiller assassin]] after being framed for treason. He travels the land while pushing a wooden cart in which his young son Gorogoro rides.

* ShoutOut: To ''Manga/LoneWolfAndCub'', obviously.* TheSpeechless: Gorogoro seems this way for a long time. Subverted at the very end of his third appearance.* TheStoic: Father and son.* WalkingTheEarth

!!'''Zato-Ino'''

* BlindSeer* DisabilitySuperpower: Sees through [[TheNoseKnows scent.]]* HandicappedBadass: By WordOfGod, '''the''' most skilled fighter in the series.* IJustWantToBeNormal: He doesn't want to fight strangers or spend his life on the run. He wants a peaceful, anonymous life in a quiet village.* OutOfFocus: Initially he was one of the major supporting characters alongside Gen, Tomoe and the rest. However once he settled down in a village his story was wrapped up and he hasn't appeared since.* ReverseGrip: Usually holds his sword this way.* ShoutOut to ZatoIchi* SwordCane

!!'''Nakamura Koji'''* {{Badass}}: He's legendary for defeating the best students and teachers of some of the best schools and laid out Usagi in their match. On record only two people have managed to defeat him, Isao and Katsuichi.* BadassGrandpa: He's an elderly man, but also one of the most powerful Samurai in the comic.* BreakTheHaughty: In his backstory he was an arrogant and haughty instructor, poised to gain favor of Lord Hikiji himself, until he came to challenge a hermit named Katsuichi. He was defeated three times in front of Hikiji, and humiliated. Upon his lost he renounced his dojo and became a wanderer, growing in both skill and humility.* CharacterTics: [[spoiler:Usagi realizes that Koji would, seemingly unconsciously, dip his sword before an attack.]] Usagi considered this knowledge key to his technique and defeat [[spoiler:but Katsuichi makes a point to remain ignorant about it so their duel may be fair]].* PunchClockVillain: He wants to duel Katsuichi to the death, and that is the extent of his villainy. Outside of that, Koji is pleasant, honorable, and has no quarrel with Usagi or anyone else. He even teams up with Katsuichi and his students to help free a village from a local gang.* UnknownRival: To Katsuichi. After he defeated Koji in their youth, he faded into Katsuichi's memory along with the other rivals he's had over the years. Though due to being a hermit, Katsuichi doesn't get much news, so Usagi specifically is sent to inform him of Koji's wishes to duel.* WorfHadTheFlu: When talking with Katsuichi, Isao specifically cites this as the reason why Koji lost to him. He'd been so worn down fighting Isao's students, that he'd lost to Isao himself. An impressive feat seeing as all the other schools he'd challenge ended with Koji whipping the floor with their best disciples before taking down the Sensei.* WorthyOpponent: He feels this way to Katsuichi, one of the few to ever defeat him. During their final battle Katsuichi clearly reciprocates [[spoiler:giving him a respectable funeral, and even stating that it was only luck that allowed him to triumph]]

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Bad Guys]]!!'''Lord Hikiji'''Enemy of Usagi's Lord Mifune, personally [[spoiler: killed Usagi's defiant father and made Keniichi village leader]], and employer of the rival Neko and Komori ninja clans.

* BigBad* EvilOverlord* TheFaceless: PlayedStraight, oddly enough. Hikiji's face is either in shadow, covered by something in the scenery, or by a helmet. Even after we know what he looks like, the comic just keeps his face hidden for all future appearances.** It's strictly from the audience's point of view, though. In-universe, his face is well-known enough to require a body double.* [[spoiler:FamousLastWords]]: During the ''Senso'' miniseries.--> '''Lord Hikiji:''' [[spoiler: Hebi! You are a lackey like all the others! [[KilledMidSentence You will obey me, or you will be--!]] ]]* GreaterScopeVillain: He often remains unseen, while others act as his emissaries.* HeWhoMustNotBeSeen: As a Japanese lord he doesn't need to be seen to be influential. [[spoiler: So far, he's the only human character in a world of animal people. When he's shown in Usagi's village, he's wearing a battle mask.]]* [[spoiler:HumansAreTheRealMonsters]]: Though this is not given as the explanation for his personal morality.* StarterVillain: Hikiji is still around, but has [[DemotedToExtra faded into the background]] as Usagi's focus has changed from the past (and vengeance) to the present.* TinTyrant: He wears face-concealing "great armor" in all but one of his appearances.

!!'''Lord Hebi'''A giant snake who's Lord Hikiji's second-in-command.

* AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever: Lord Hebi is so huge he fights ninjas by ''picking them up with his mouth and hurling them to their death''.* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: He isn't just a cunning politician, but a fierce combatant. One notable example is when his entourage gets attacked by ninjas, and he lunges into the fray despite the warning of his guards, proceeding to hold his own and then some:--> '''Lord Hebi''': And leave my safety to ''you'' [[SurroundedByIdiots incompetents?!]]* TheDragon: To Hikiji--he consistently shows up as the "voice" of the Shadow Lord.* DragonInChief: Hebi gets considerably more screen time than Hikiji and is the active schemer amongst Hikiji's inner circle. He might as well be the BigBad in his own right.* EnemyMine: Hebi sent the Neko ninja with Usagi and Tomoe to stop a lord who was planning to betray Hikiji, and had stockpiled guns. Noriyuki tells him that he only did it to serve his interests. Hebi merely states that they should be grateful that they stood together against this threat.* EvenEvilHasStandards: Though ruthless himself, Lord Hebi is shocked, disgusted and horrified when he [[spoiler: learns that his master Lord Hikiji has made a deal with the Martian invaders and betrayed Earth. In retaliation he kills Hikiji, before being killed in turn by the Martians.]]--> '''Lord Hebi:''' [[spoiler: You make a pact with ''monsters''! And ''you''.. ''you are the greatest monster of all! You would kill your own people!'']]--> '''Lord Hebi, [[spoiler: after killing Hikiji]]:''' [[spoiler: You're the worst kind of monster there is. You should have died long ago. I followed you blindly, but now I can see you for the ''abomination'' you were. I can see.]]* FacingTheBulletsOneLiner: [[spoiler: When facing the Martian tripod that is about to incinerate him, just as it's started to rain:]]--> '''Lord Hebi:''' It's starting to rain. Good. We need the rain.* PetTheDog: After lord Ito succeeds in a bet with a fellow lord, to have ice delivered from the mountains to his home (a very difficult task as the ice melts easily in the summer weather), Hebi is impressed and gives him the position of honor during Hikiji's visit.* UndyingLoyalty: Of all Hikiji's servants, he is the most faithful. [[spoiler: It doesn't stop him from turning on Hikiji after the latter announces his alliance with the Martians despite the ruin they're inflicting on his own people.]]* UnwittingPawn: As smart as Hebi is, he's clueless to the Neko Ninja's power struggle, and is manipulated into ousting Chizu by [[TheStarscream Kagemaru]].* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: Hebi is one of the cruelest and most inhuman characters, and coincidentally also one of the scariest-looking and least human.

!!'''Jei-san the Blade of the Gods'''One of Usagi's deadliest enemies. In his first appearance he is showed as a crazy killer who think himself as an emissary of the gods in a mission to clean the world from the evil [[KnightTemplar by any means needed]]; but with each appearance, although it's never confirmed that he is ''the blade of the gods'', it's made more clearly that he isn't just a normal person, neither.

* BackFromTheDead: Despite being visibly killed, he's come back from the grave more than once.* BloodbathVillainOrigin* BlueAndOrangeMorality: Jei is everything he claims to be, a servant of the Gods sent to cleanse the world of evil. The only problem is that Jei and the Gods he serves have a view of Good that everyone else would describe as sociopathy: the understanding the very concept of evil makes you a target.* DarkIsEvil: He doesn't just wear black clothes; whenever he gets his hands on a blade ''it immediately turns black''.* FateWorseThanDeath: being stabbed by his spear--or later, sword--is shown to be agonizing, and it's implied that if he kills you with it your soul is destroyed.* GlowingEyesOfDoom** ProphetEyes: They often seem blank white.* ImplacableMan: [[spoiler: His first incarnation, anyway.]]* IncrediblyLamePun / ShoutOut: If you attach the honorific "-san" to his name, it sounds like "Jason," aka the main villain of the ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'' movies, with whom he shares some traits: i.e., being an ImplacableMan who constantly comes BackFromTheDead.* KickTheSonOfABitch: While his warped view of morality means he constantly kills good people, Jei's also killed a number of demonstrably evil people as well.* KnightTemplar* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: In the first stories where he appears it's left ambiguous whether he's an actual supernatural entity or just a homicidal madman who happens to be good with a spear.** Later we learn that he's really a demon [[BodySurf possessing host bodies]].* MilkyWhiteEyes* SlasherSmile: And when he starts chuckling it's too late to run.* TheVirus: "Jei-san" is actually a spirit who uses people as hosts.

!!'''Keiko'''Jei-San's "niece", who he spared after killing the thieves who killed her grandpa because she was "innocent". Having nowhere else to go, she started following him. [[spoiler:She was originally supposed to become Jei's new host, but the author felt uncomfortable so he created Inazuma.]]

* BadassAndChildDuo: The horror movie version.* CheerfulChild / CreepyChild* PureIsNotGood* SatelliteCharacter: She hangs around with Jei and whatever vessel he has at the moment. As the stories go on she interacts with everyone else less and less.* StepfordSmiler* WhereIWasBornAndRazed

!The Neko NinjaThe most frequently encountered ninja clan in the series, principally because they are the agents Lord Hikiji uses when he has dirty business to do and can't have his name attached to it. They are frequently antagonists of the heroes.

* EnemyMine: They ally with Usagi to face Lord Tamakuro. They then declare that they have no further alliance with Usagi.* WeHaveReserves: Usagi and his companions have killed a lot, to say nothing of those lost to Lord Tamakuro in ''The Dragon Bellow Conspiracy.'' By the end of ''Grasscutter II'' it's clear that they cannot continue to sustain such terrible losses, leading Chizu to question their continued association with BadBoss Hikiji.* WhatMeasureIsAMook: In many early stories the Neko ninja were simply a vast swarm of interchangeable cats in black garments. However, over time the series has focused on individual ninja, examined their philosophy and gone into detail about the reasons for their service to the BiggerBad.

!!'''Shingen'''

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking* ArmorPiercingQuestion: Usagi gives him an awesome one when accused of destroying a Neko Ninja hideout * {{Badass}}* [[spoiler:DyingMomentOfAwesome: Killing Tamakuro and [[HeroicSacrifice himself]] via black powder. [[StuffBlowingUp Boom.]]]]--> '''Shingen:''' A ninja's duty in life... is death!* KilledOffForReal: Leading Chizu, his next of kin, to claim his position starting in Book 8.* {{Ninja}}: The ''kashira'' or "boss" of the Neko clan.* NobleDemon: Shingen has very few scruples in serving the wicked Lord Hikiji, but he lives by a strict code, particularly when it comes to VillainousValor.* PaperThinDisguise: Shingen's attempt at a woodcutter disguise shows the importance of researching your cover and keeping your lies consistent.* WeaponOfChoice: Twin kama

!!'''Chizu'''

* DarkActionGirl: Her clan serves Hikiji. [[spoiler: [[HeelFaceTurn Eventually,]] just ActionGirl.]]* [[spoiler:TheDrifter: Eventually goes on the run from her clan.]]* FriendlyEnemy[=/=]FoeYay: Gets some ShipTease with Usagi.* FemmeFatale* {{Ninja}}: Becomes the ''kashira'' after her brother's death.* NobleDemon: During her tenure, she makes a number of decisions that she claims are PragmaticVillainy but which probably stem from her personal code of ethics.* TeamMom: When she [[spoiler:becomes head of the clan.]] Not all of the Neko are pleased...* TraumaCongaLine: When Kagemaru pulls his coup, she has all her friends and allies turned against her, she's cut, poisoned, and dropped into a moat. Kimi finds her sick, freezing and bleeding on the side of a building later on and a barely coherent Chizu must accept [[spoiler: that she's now a fugitive.]]

!!'''Kagemaru'''

* TheStarScream: He successfully manipulated Lord Hebi and Chizu, allowing him to usurp command of the Neko clan.* SmugSnake: He smirks a lot.

!!'''General Fujii'''

One of the more memorable bandit chiefs Usagi faced; a renegade former samurai of considerable skill and cunning.

* BadBoss: He has no concern for the lives of his own men and at one point destroys a bridge to make a getaway, leaving several of his men on the other side.* BigOlEyebrows* CardCarryingVillain: He doesn't ''gloat'' exactly, but when Usagi calls him a "monster", Fujii just calmly responds: "Yes, I suppose I am."* GenreBlindness: He stole Usagi's swords. He even had the option of putting down the swords and walking away, but he felt he had to prove himself superior.* ItsPersonal: He makes things personal between himself and Usagi by stealing Usagi's swords, and later using them to cut down an argumentative village elder.* ManipulativeBastard: Made the villagers build a wall around their village, supposedly to protect them from bandits, and then locked them up inside and forced them to work for him.* SurroundedByIdiots: Invoked the trope by name.--> '''Fujii:''' Bah! I'm surrounded by idiots and cowards.* VillainousBreakdown: He has one when Usagi finally catches up with him after he steals his swords.* TheyCallMeMisterTibbs: Insists on being called "General".

!!'''Yamaguchi Kyosai'''A mercenary first encountered by Usagi as an enemy, next time as an ally. Quite cordial outside work.

* PunchClockVillain: Ceases attacking Usagi the moment the stone he attempts to steal breaks, rendering the point moot - and has absolutely no hard feelings about it the next time they meet.

!Koroshi, the League of Assassins

* BewareTheNiceOnes: While some of the Koroshi are openly dangerous, murderous types, the ''really'' nasty ones wouldn't hurt a fly!... for ''free,'' anyway.* TheDogWasTheMastermind: Generally speaking, the more harmless a minor character seems, the better the odds that somebody's going to die mysteriously within a few pages.* TheUnseen: The directors of Koroshi rarely, if ever, meet Usagi face to face.

!The Komori Ninja

The Komori are a ninja clan that are constantly striving to gain Lord Hikiji's favor and become his principal servants. They are relentless and bloodthirsty, but (for the most part) not terribly bright. To make up for their lack of hands, they wear blades strapped to the leading edge of each wing, turning their dive attacks into a sort of guillotine.

* BatOutOfHell* MoreTeethThanTheOsmondFamily: Very jagged, very numerous.* WeHaveReserves: They appear in swarms and fight to the last bat.

!The Mogura Ninja

A third ninja clan that has only appeared once or twice. They don't seem to have a daimyo to sponsor them, acting as mercenary spies and saboteurs instead. These moles have poor day vision and burrowing abilities, so they tend to rely heavily on ambush by night.

* WolverineClaws[[/folder]]

[[folder:Others]]!!'''Lord Mifune'''Usagi's beloved lord, defeated by Lord Hikiji's forces thanks to General Toda's treachery at the Battle of Adachigahara. [[spoiler:The war was caused by Hikiji sending the Neko Ninja to murder his wife and child. Usagi personally decapitates his lord's body to ensure his head isn't used as a trophy]].

* PosthumousCharacter: He appears only during flashbacks.* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Everybody seems to agree that he wielded his authority with great responsibility. He honored his vassals' service to him.* ShoutOut: To ToshiroMifune.

!!'''The Woodcutters'''Two monkeys, husband and wife, who have an amazing - and totally coincidental - tendency to travel to whatever area Usagi is in: they're routinely seen in any scene set on a road. They play a minor role in stories in Book 3 and Book 9, and come within a hair of being the victim of a villain in Book 22, but ordinarily they have no lines and are simply [[FunnyBackgroundEvent seen passing by.]] They refer to each other as "husband" and "wife".

!!'''The Snitch'''A hooded figure who first appeared in ''Space Usagi'', he sells information to anyone with enough money.

* ActuallyPrettyFunny: When he's finally caught doing an elaborate double-cross, Gen isn't sure whether to be angry or amused.--> '''Stray Dog:''' "You've been playing us against each other -"--> '''Gen:''' "- and charging us for it! I'd wring your neck if I didn't admire you so much."* HiddenDepths: He's a coward and a weakling, but he does have considerable archery skills. After sending an entire gang of sell swords at Usagi to tire him out, he very near kills him with a well shot arrow to the head. Usagi wouldn't have even noticed it Inazuma hadn't caught it.* LaserGuidedKarma: Eventually, one of the large violent men he sold out catches him alone in a secluded location, beats him up and takes all his money.* NoNameGiven: He's just "The Snitch," though his Space Usage counterpart was named Toady.* PerpetualPoverty: He gets generous payments in almost every appearance, and yet the next time he appears in-series, he still seems to be offering information for a few ''zeni.''* PunchClockVillain: He'll snitch to the heroes too. But villains usually pay more.* RecurringTraveler: He pops up in many different towns over the course of the series. No justification is attempted, although it's entirely possible that he's been run out of every town.[[/folder]]----